Darkest Hour by V.C. Andrews Read Free Book Online

driveway. I got in beside Henry and we started off with Mamma calling out her warnings.
    "Keep that sweater closed, Lillian honey, and don't stay outside too long during recess."

"Yes, Mamma," I called back. Henry urged Belle and Babe on. Minutes later, we spotted Emily walking, her head down, her long thin body bent over so she could pound each step vigorously and quickly. When we pulled alongside, Henry called to her.
    "Wants to get up now, Miss Emily?"
    She didn't reply, nor did she look our way. Henry nodded and moved us along.
    "Knew a woman who was that stubborn once," he said. "No one would marry her until this man come along and takes on a bet he can break her stubborn streak. He marries her and they leave the church in their wagon pulled by this ornery mule, which belonged to her. The mule just stops dead in its tracks. He gets out and stands right before it and says, 'That's once.' Then he gets back in the wagon and they go on until the mule stops again. He gets out again and says, 'That's twice.' They get goin' again and then the mule stops a third time. This time he gets out and shoots the mule dead. The woman starts screaming at him that now they got to carry all their things themselves. When she's finished, he looks her in the eye and says, 'That's once.' "
    Henry roared at his own story. Then he leaned down to me and said, "Sure wish someone would come along and tell Miss Emily, 'That's once.' "
    I smiled although I wasn't totally positive I understood the story and what he meant. Henry seemed to have a tale for every occasion.
    Miss Walker was happy to see me. She sat me down toward the front of the classroom and all that day, she broke away from the other children and spent time working with me one on one to get me up to where everyone else was. At the end of the day, she told me I was caught up. It was as if I had not missed a moment. Emily heard her compliment me, but looked away quickly.
    Henry was waiting outside with the wagon to take us home. This time, whether she had seen the foolishness of her stubbornness or she was just plain tired, Emily got in, too. I sat up front and as we started away, I noticed a sheet on the floor of the wagon, only it had a small hump in it and the hump suddenly moved.
    "What's that, Henry?" I cried, a bit frightened. Emily peered over my shoulder.
    "It's a present for ya all," he said, and reached down to lift off the sheet to reveal the cutest all-white kitten I had ever seen.
    "Oh, Henry. Is it a boy or a girl kitten?" I asked, taking it into my lap.
    "Girl," Henry said. "Her mamma's finished taking care of her. She's an orphan now."
    She peered up at me with frightened eyes until I hugged and petted her.
    "What should I call her?"
    "Call her Cotton," he suggested. "She sure looks like cotton when she sleeps and buries her head in her paws."
    Henry was right. The rest of the way home, Cotton slept in my lap.
    "You can't bring it into the house," Emily said as we turned up the driveway. "Papa won't want any animals in the house."
    "We'll find a place for her in the barn," Henry promised, but when we reached the house, Mamma was standing on the front porch to see how I was and I couldn't wait to show her my kitten.
    "I'm fine, Mamma. I'm not tired or anything, and look," I said, holding up Cotton, "Henry's given me a present. It's a girl kitten and we've named her Cotton."
    "Oh, she's so tiny," Mamma said. "How adorable."
    "Mamma," I said, lowering my voice, "could I keep Cotton in my room? Please. I won't let her go out of my room. I'll feed her there, keep her clean and—"
    "Oh, I don't know, honey. The Captain won't even tolerate the hound dogs on this porch."
    I lowered my eyes sadly. How could anyone not want something as precious and soft as Cotton in his house?
    "She's just a baby, Mamma," I pleaded. "Henry says her mother doesn't look after her anymore, either. Now she's an orphan," I added. Mamma's eyes grew small and sad.
    "Well . . ." she said, "you've had a